Ugo
Group: Members
Posts: 5495
Joined: April 2000 |
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Posted: Sep. 22 2008, 18:45 |
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I wasn't talking about the MFSL release of Tales. I was talking about the 2007 Deluxe Edition release by Universal/Mercury, which included both mixes of the album (the original 1975 mix and Parsons' 1987 remix with additional recordings) on two CDs. It took long to be released because Parsons was apparently embarassed in releasing the original mix together with the remix (indeed, he approved MFSL's release of the original mix on its own), as the mixes were too different from each other (sonically and otherwise). What finally convinced him to release it was only the fact that Tales was included in the whole plan of remastered reissues (with bonus tracks) of the whole APP catalogue. At least this is what I've read at the time.
Regarding HR, Mike O. may not own the rights to the album, but I guess he'd certainly get to have his say if anyone officially released the original mix without his explicit permission. And if they did, he would most probably veto the release.
As for his own statements on HR, I too have learned to take Mike O.'s judgements on his own work not too seriously, especially considering the fact that he seems to contradict himself every single time he talks about a past album of his, even from an interview to another. But he always appeared (to me) to have shown a certain dislike of HR. While a number of fans consider it one of his 1970s (and not only) masterpieces, he apparently doesn't. In at least one occasion (I think it was "Mike Oldfield's 10 favourite tracks"), he dismissed it as just a passing phase between TB and Ommadawn. Obviously, I cannot say for certain whether this dislike depends on the mood he was in when he originally recorded it, on his lack of appreciation of the original mix, or on whatever else. I just seem to have gathered, from what Mike O. has said about HR from time to time, a sense that he isn't particularily keen on that album.  So, if anyone asked him to approve a release of both mixes of the album together (and as you, Bassman, pointed out, they really should ask him, even if they're not obliged to), I have some really strong doubts that he would approve such a release. Maybe he could do a new remix including all the parts that the fans are asking him to include, but I don't think he would be willing to release the 1974 original mix of HR and the remix. That's why I'm pessimistic about a possible Deluxe Edition of it.
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Ugo C. - a devoted Amarokian
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